Garment hanger with theft alarm



Dec. 9, 1952 J. E. TOWLER 2,620,761

I GARMENT HANGER WITH THEF T ALARM Filed Dec. 5. 1950 INVENTOR Joey E 761M456 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 9, 1952 UNITED smrss 7 Claims.

This invention relates in general to garment hangers and deals, more particularly, with an improved garment hanger provided with means for sounding an alarm in the event of unauthorized removal of a garment from the hanger.

Garment hangers of this character are advantageously used in stores and shops where garments are displayed, especially expensive garments such as fur coats, for example, to sound an alarm in the event of an attempted shoplifting or unauthorized removal of a garment from the hanger. Likewise, the garment hanger is useful in a similar manner in restaurants and other public establishments to prevent the theft or unauthorized removal of a garment from the hanger.

A primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a garment hanger incorporating an alarm which is adapted to operate upon unauthorized removal of a garment from the hanger to sound the alarm and thereby signal the attempted theft of the garment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garment hanger of this character including an alarm and having a supporting hook which is movable relatively to the hanger to actuate the alarm upon removal of a garment from the hanger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a garment hanger together with an alarm, as aforesaid, in which the alarm is provided as a simple, inexpensive spring wound device which is mounted in compact relation to the hanger in position to be actuated by the movable hook of the hanger.

A further object is to provide a garment hanger including an alarm, as and for the purposes described, together with means for locking the alarm against operation as, for example, when a garment is removed from the hanger by a clerk or other authorized person.

Further objects and advantages and other new and useful features in the construction, arrangement and general combination of parts of the invention will be apparent as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a garment hanger in accordance with the invention showing the alarm unit in elevation as mounted in the hanger in position to be operated by the movable supporting hook of the hanger; and,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the alarm unit as seen in Fig. 1.

Referring now, more particularly, to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates the general construction and arrangement of a garment hanger provided with an alarm unit in accordance with the invention. The garment hanger itself may be of any suitable character and in the present example, is shown as made of molded plastic material in the -form of an elongate channel-shaped body 1 comprising side surfaces 3 merging with upper surfaces 5 defining the usual downwardly sloping arms of the garment hanger. The central area of the channel-shaped body l is provided on its underside with an integral enlargement or reinforcing hub l substantially in the form of an inverted cone. The hub l is provided with a passage 8 extending through the top of the hanger and receiving the shank of a rod IE! in connected relation with the garment hanger l. The upper portion of the rod It is formed into a hook I! for supporting thehanger on a bar B, or the like, and, of course, said rod It] may be provided with any other suitable means for supporting the garment in a similar or related manner.

The rod I0 is provided with an upper stop [3 above the hanger and a similar lower stop I l below the hub I such that said rod is slidably mounted in the passage 8 in said hub between said stops I3 and Hi. The lower free end of said rod [0 includes a thread portion for the attachment thereto of a nut l5 which serves in the manner of a push button or similar abutment for actuating the alarm unit of the garment hanger, as presently to be described. A spiral coil spring H3, in inverted relation, is telescoped over the free end of therod IEI in its projecting relation through the huh I. The end coil at the larger end of said coil spring i8 is of such size as to seat around the base of the hub 7 while the smaller end of said coil spring fits around the rod I0 and is retained thereon by the nut H5; The coil spring I8, as thus provided, bears upon the nut [5 to urge the slidable rod lil downwardly to the limit defined by the upper stop l3 engaging the top of the hanger.

Conversely, when the hanger l is mounted by its hook I l on the bar B and a garment is supported on said hanger, the coil spring i8 is compressed by the nut [5 under weight of the garment on the hanger I such that said rod I 0 moves upwardly relatively to the hanger l to the point at which the lower stop M engages the lower free end of the hub 1.

When the garment is removed from the hanger, the coil spring i8 is free to expand from the aforesaid compressed condition and thereby moves the rod Ill downwardly relatively to the hanger I to the point at which the upper stop l3 engages the top of the hanger. It will be understood, accordingly, that it is this downward movement of the rod ii! relatively to the hanger i, which is utilized to actuate the alarm unit included in the hanger, as presently to be described. Preferably, a sleeve i9 is loosely fitted over the upper shank portion of the rod it] between the hook II and the top of the hanger i such that the aforesaid downward movement of said rod 1 8 relatively to the hanger i will take place to actuate the alarm even though the rod ii] is grasped in the area of said sleeve is. Thus, in the event of an attempt by an unauthorized person, for example, to prevent actuation of the alarm by holding the rod iii adjacent the top of the hanger to stop the aforesaid movement of the rod ll] relatively to the hanger, said rod H3 would slide in said sleeve [9 regardless and thereby operate in its normal manner to actuate the alarm in the manner intended.

The alarm unit, designated generally 20, may be of any suitable character to operate in response to the movement of the rod it, as aforesaid and of course, such a unit may be mounted in' the hanger in any suitable way in operative relation to said rod It. In the present example, the alarm unit is shown provided in a simple casing comprising a box-like cover 2! removably supported on the base 22 of the casing. The-base 22 is provided as a simple plate having upturned spring tongues 24 on opposite sides of elongate laterally extending flanges 25 which are secured to the arms of the hanger in any desired way,

removable when necessary for servicing or repair of the mechanism of the alarm unit.

The mechanism of the alarm unit comprises a main spring and an associated gear 31 on a vertical shaft 32 mounted on the base plate 22 and having a winding key 33 outside saidbase plate. A ratchet wheel 34 is provided on said shaft 32 together with a pawl 35 which is urged by spring 38- into engagement with said ratchet wheel 34 to prevent reverse turning of the shaft 32 after said main spring 3!!- has been wound.

The main springs!) turns the associated gear 3! and said gear 3! rotates a pinion 39' carrying an escape wheel ie which is adapted to actuate intermittently one end of a pivoted lever 42 mounted on a vertical spindle 43 supported on said base plate 22. A hammer 45 on the other end of said pivoted lever 52 is located in position to strike a bell 46 which is bolted or otherwise'secured to the base" plate 22 and preferably on a rubber cushion 41.

A slidable trip pin 53 is movably supported in aligned openings in the cover 2| and base 22, respectively, adjacent the pivoted lever 42. The slidable trip pin 50 includes an intermediate cam surface 5! tapering inwardly toward the upper end of said pin 50'. In the fully upward projecting relation of said pin 59, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the cam surface 5| on said pin engages the pivoted lever 32 to hold the same against movement out of contact with the bell 46. The lever 42, as thus held against movement by the cam surface 5|, otherwise prevents operation of the alarm mechanism in what is actually the set position of the alarm when the main spring 39 has been wound. Accordingly, when the slidable Cir trip pin 59 is moved downwardly as illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 2, the cam surface 5| thereon is moved out of contact with the lever 42 such that said lever 32 is free to pivot and strike the bell 46 intermittently in the normal operation of the alarm mechanism.

In order to lock the slidable trip pin 50 in the aforesaid set position of the alarm wherein the cam surface 51 engages the lever 42 to hold the same against movement, a stop plate Bil is pivotally attached to the base 22 in position to be turned into engagement with the lower end of said trip pin 58, as illustrated by the broken line showing of said stop plate 68 in Fig. 2. The stop plate 68, when thus positioned against the lower end of the trip pin 55, looks said trip pin 59 against movement such that the cam surface 5! holds the lever 42 against movement and otherwise prevents operation of the alarm mechanism, as aforesaid. With the stop plate 60 in this relation, the main spring 30 is wound by the key 33 to prepare the alarm for operation. In the same relation, the alarm is locked by said stop plate til or otherwise turned ofi so that it will not operate until it is desired to set the same for operation. When the alarm is to be set for operation, said stop plate St is turned out of engagement with the lower end of said slidable trip pin 50 to the unlockingposition thereof as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, whereupon said slidable trip pin 5% is free to move axially downwardly as necessary for the cam surface 5| to disengage from the lever 42 and thereby permit said lever 4.2 to pivot in the normal operation of the alarm, as aforesaid.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the alarm unit 28, thus provided, is mounted in the garment hanger l substantially as shown in Fig. l with the upper end of the slidable trip pin 59 in line with the abutment defined by the nut ill on the lower end of the rod l0. Preferably, the alarm is prepared for operation by turning the stop plate Ell into locking position, as illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 2, whereupon the main spring 30 is wound by the winding key 33. A garment may then be placed on the garment hanger and the garment hanger mounted in a display case, or the like, and the alarm set for operation by turning the stop plate 60 to the unlocking position thereof shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

The arrangement is such that "with the garment hanger carrying a garment and the alarm set for operation, the weight of the garment on the hanger causes the slidable rod I!) to move upwardly relatively to the hanger body I until the lower stop 14' thereon engages the lower end of the hub i on the hanger. In this relation, the nut 15 compresses the coil spring [8 and-said nut otherwise is completely out of contact with the upper end of the slidable trip pin '50 of the alarm unit. Accordingly, so long as the garment remains onthe hanger, the alarm will not operate, but any unauthorized removal of the garment from the hanger will instantly result in an automatic operation of the alarm. This operation of the alarm takes place as a result of the re moval of the weight of the garment from the hanger, such that the coil spring [8 is free to expand and thereby force the rod l 0 downwardly relatively to the hanger body I. This downward movement of said rod lil causes the abutment defined by the nut 15 on the lower end of said rod ill to strike the upper end of the trip pina50 to move said trip pin downwardly to the position illustrated in broken linesin Fig. 2. In this relation, the cam surface 5i on said trip pin 50 is disengaged from the lever 42 such that said lever 42 is free to pivot and cause the hammer 45 thereon to strike the bell 46' and thereby sound the alarm indicating that there has been an unauthorized removal of the garment from the hanger.

In the various uses of the garment hanger, it will be understood that a garment on the hanger may be displayed by a clerk without setting on the alarm so long as-the weight of the garment on the hanger maintains the abutment [5 on the rod I0 out of contact with the trip pin 59. This is eifected simply by holding the garment hanger by the hook H or in looking the alarm by turning the stop plate 60 to locking position, as described. When the garment is replaced in a display case, the stop plate 60 is then returned to its unlocking position setting the alarm for operation, as aforesaid.

The stop plate 60 or similar lock for the alarm may be provided in any desired way as a concealed or secret lock or in a manner in which the same is operative only by authorized persons through a special key or the like. In this regard, the alarm may be provided with dummy switches or keys which have no effect on the operation of the alarm but serve to confuse and befuddle an unauthorized person attemptin to prevent the operation of the alarm preparatory to removing the garment from the hanger.

While the invention has been described in detail with a specific example, such example is intended as an illustration only, inasmuch as it will be apparent that other modifications in the construction, arrangement and general combination of parts may be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, with all changes falling within the scope, meaning and range of equivalency of the claims intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A'garment hanger comprising a body member having outwardly extending generally horizontal arms for supporting a garment, a vertical rod for hanging said hanger associated with said body member and slidable axially relative to said body member, an alarm device attached to said body member in position to be actuated by said axially slidable vertical rod, resilient means hearing on said body member and. engaging said axially slidable vertical rod and normally urging the same downwardly relative to the body member, said rod being slidable axially upwardly relative to said body member toinoperative position with respect to said alarm device when a garment is supported on said body member, said rod being slidable axially downwardly relative to said body member under influence of said resilient means to actuate said alarm device when the garment is removed from said body member of the hanger.

2. A garment hanger comprising a body member having outwardly extending generally horizontal arms for supporting a garment, a vertical rod for hanging said hanger associated with said body member and slidable axially relative to said body member, an alarm device attached to said body member having a trip element in positical rod, a spring bearing on said body member and engaging said axially slidable vertical rod and normally urging the same downwardly relative to said body member toward said trip element of the alarm device, said rod being slidable axially upwardly relative to said body member to inoperative position with respect to said trip element of the alarm device when a garment is supported on said body member, said rod being slidable axially downwardly relative to said body member under influence of said spring to actuate said trip element for operation of said alarm device when the garment is removed from said body member of the hanger.

3. A garment hanger comprising a body member having outwardly extending generally horizontal arms for supporting a garment, a vertical rod for hanging said hanger associated with said body member and slidable axially relative to said body member, an alarm device attached to said body member having a movable trip element in position to be actuated by said axially slidable vertical rod, a spring bearing on said body member and engaging said axially slidable vertical rod and normally urging the same downwardly relative to said body member toward said movable trip element of the alarm device, said rod being slidable axially upwardly relative to said body member to inoperative position with respect to said trip element of the alarm device when a garment is supported on said-body member, said rod being slidable axially downwardly relative to said body member under influence of said p ing to actuate said movable trip element for operation of said alarm device when the garment is removed from said body member, and means included in' said alarm device for holding said movable trip element against movement when it is desired to lock the alarm device against operation.

4. A garment hanger comprising a body member having outwardly extending generally horizontal arms for supporting a garment, a vertical rod for hanging said hanger associated with said body member and slidable axially relative to said body member, an alarm device comprising a casing attached to the underside of said body member and having an axially movable trip element adapted to be actuated by said axially slidable vertical rod, a spring bearing on said body member and engaging said axially slidable vertical rod and normally urging the same downwardly relative to the body member toward said trip element of the alarm device, said rod being slidable axially upwardly relative to said body member to inoperative position with respect to said trip element of the alarm device when a garment is supported on said body member, said rod being slidable axially downwardly relative to said body member under influence of said spring to actuate said trip element for operation of said alarm device when the garment is removed from said body member, and an element on said casing of the alarm device for holding said axially movable trip element against movement when it is desired to lock the alarm device against operation.

5. A garment hanger comprising a body member having outwardly extending generally horizontal arms for supporting a garment, a vertical rod for hanging said hanger extending through a passage in said body member and slidable axially relative thereto with the lower end of said rod projecting from the underside of said body member, an alarm device attached to the underside of said body member and having a trip element adapted to be actuated by said axially slidable vertical rod, a coil spring seated against the underside of said body member and telescoped over the projecting lower end of said rod and engaging the same to urge said rod normally downwardly relative to the body member towards said trip element of the alarm device, said rod being slidable axially upwardly relative to said body member to inoperative position with respect to said trip element of the alarm device when a garment is supported on said body member, and said rod being slidable axially downwardly relative to said body member under influence of said coil spring to actuate said trip element for operation of said alarm device when the garment is removed from said body member of the hanger.

6. A garment hanger comprising a body member having a central hub on its underside and outwardly extending arms for supporting a garment, an alarm device attached to said body member below said hub and comprising a trip element, a rod for hanging said hanger extending through a passage in said hub on the body member with said body member and rod being adapted for relative movement, a coil spring telescoped over the lower end of said rod and seated on said hub, an abutment on said rod retaining said coil spring on said rod, said coil spring normally urging said abutment toward said trip element of the alarm device and being adapted to yield to permit movement of said abutment away from said trip element when a garment is supported on said body member, said coil spring being effective to move said abutment into contact with said trip element to actuate the alarm device when the garment is removed from said body member.

7. A garment hanger comprising a body member having a central hub on its underside and outwardly extending arms for supporting a garment, an alarm device attached to said body member below said hub and comprising a casing and an axially movable trip element, a rod for hanging said hanger extending through a passage in said hub on the body member with said body member and rod being adapted for relative movement, stops on said rod for limiting said relative movement, a slidable sleeve on the upper portion of said rod, a coil spring telescoped over the lower end of said rod and seated on said hub, an abutment on said rod retainin said coil spring on said rod, said coil spring normally urging said abutment toward said trip element of the alarm device and being adapted to yield to permit movement of said abutment away from said trip element when a garment is supported on said body member, said coil spring being effective to move said abutment into contact with said trip element to actuate the alarm device when the garment is removed from said body member, and an element on said casing of the alarm device for holding said trip element against axial movement when it is desired to lock the alarm device against operation.

JUBY E. FOWLER.

REFERENQlES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,737,514 Nikolish Nov. 26, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,561 Germany Nov. 4, 1 879 

